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Background Note
| HBS Case Collection
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2011
Note on Evaluating Empirical Research
by
Michael I. Norton
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Abstract
This note is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of how to evaluate empirical research papers. While reading both case studies and empirical research require close attention and scrutiny, evaluating empirical research requires a different “lens” – this note briefly outlines how to adopt this mindset. It includes a review of the major sections of an empirical research paper (Introduction, method, Results, and Discussion), as well as guidelines on how to evaluate each section.
Keywords: Decision Making;
Research;
Cases;
Perspective;